William James "Buffalo Bill" Tarr

SUNBURY — William "Buffalo Bill" James Tarr, 61, of Sunbury, formerly of Shamokin, died peacefully in his home Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015.

Bill was born in Newton, Kan., Jan. 27, 1953, to the Rev. James Tarr and Jean (Roberts) Tarr. He was raised in Pascoag, R.I., New Bedford, Mass., Shamokin and Paxinos.

He graduated from Shamokin Area High School in 1971, and attended both LeTourneau College and Nyack College.

In 1991, he married Ruth (Forman) Tarr at the Seamen's Bethel Church in New Bedford.

He was the proprietor of several businesses throughout his life, including Tarr Automotive Restoration, Street Level Leather, Totem Tattoo Studios, Liam Robert's Art Gallery and Tarr Detective Agency.

Buffalo Bill was an internationally known, award-winning tattoo artist, a guest artist at many tattoo shops throughout the U.S. and abroad, and a builder of fine tattoo machines. Beyond tattooing, Bill was an award-winning fine artist, a lifelong learner and a mentor to many. He loved motorcycle touring with his wife, spending time with his family and friends, traveling, vacationing in Provincetown, Mass., going to the movies, reading, teasing and making people laugh, and was a master at creating clever games to entertain his children.

Bill loved his family and is survived by his wife, Ruth Tarr; children, Aaron Tarr and his wife, Teddi Prettiman-Tarr, Levi Tarr and his wife, Desiree Tarr, Beau Taby and his wife, Donna Taby, and Sarah Taby and her husband, David Bender; grandchildren, Noelle Tarr, Eric Winters, Jacob Taby and Emmaleah Taby; a great-grandchild, Julian Winters; brothers, Daniel Tarr and James Tarr; seven nieces and nephews, and multiple granddogs.

His parents preceded Bill in death.

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TARR — William "Buffalo Bill" James Tarr, 61, of Sunbury. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Farrow's Funeral Home, 240 W. Chestnut St., Shamokin.